We have taken many steps to reduce our expenses, yet we’ve been forking out a whole lotta money every month for a gym membership. Good health can be priceless, but this month we found a better solution.

The fact that we could not afford any household emergencies used to be a source of overwhelming stress. Here's the savings plan that is giving us greater peace of mind. Plus, two tools you can use to create a customized home repair savings plan!

Now that we've made some great changes in our finances, we can no longer take our inspiration from sheer panic. We've turned the ship and righted the sails, and staying motivated to make smart decisions takes something different.

When we pick up a new piece of furniture at Ikea, it is not common to consider where the materials came from, how much fossil fuel was used, or how soon it will end up in a landfill. But everything we buy has a backstory, and we deplete far more than just our bank accounts when we buy more than we need.

Some wise words snapped me out of a life where I habitually spent my time and money on unnecessary things that didn't bring me joy or support my long-term goals. In this post, it is an honor to share those words with you.

The post is part of Mindfully Spent's Series "Doing the (Seemingly) Impossible." Guest Contributor Katie Oaks Weiler Stephens writes with grace about her relationship with the material things in her life and why she decided it was time to unburden herself of some very sentimental possessions.